Cable and pipeline disruption causes downtime to an offshore energy installation, with large economical consequences.
Although protection of subsea infrastructure can be costly, preventive measures are an important part of managing project risk and lifecycle costs.
Rock protection helps prevent scour around foundations and shields cables and pipelines from damage, supporting the long-term integrity of offshore wind farms and energy infrastructure.
The challenge is not simply to place rocks on the seabed, but to do so accurately and efficiently under a wide range of conditions. Different projects have different requirements. Some prioritise high transport capacity, others require precise placement close to sensitive infrastructure, while some demand operations in water depths of up to 2,000 metres.
This is why no single subsea rock installation vessel fits every application. Vessels such as Acadia, Flintstone, Bravenes and the two newly-contracted vessels for Van Oord, have been developed to address different operational needs, from maximising cargo capacity to deepwater capability and enhanced operability in demanding offshore conditions.
Two SRIVs under construction for Van Oord at Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd.
Despite their differences, they all serve the same purpose: helping contractors protect critical infrastructure safely, efficiently and predictably. As offshore projects become larger and more complex, the ability to execute subsea rock installation efficiently is becoming increasingly important to project schedules, operational risk and overall project economics.
Whether the objective is maximising wind farm availability, protecting export cables or reducing lifecycle risk, subsea rock installation remains one of the most important contributors to long-term offshore asset performance.
Proven designs - see our Subsea Rock Installation references
Decades of building state-of-the-art vessels for demanding marine operations have given us a knowledge base and experience guaranteeing the highest standards of quality, execution and delivery.
Shipbuilding worldwide
In addition to Ulstein's yard in Norway, we work with partner yards worldwide. Contact us if you have a specific yard in mind for your next project and would like our assistance.
